Chapter 1 – Part 3

‘This time, it’s really time to go home.’

Surely, no one would come and give me more work now.

Exhausted from the tension, I returned to my room in the servants’ quarters and habitually took out my diary.

There, a new sentence from my diary friend appeared.

[It seems I will be off work soon too. How was your day at the tea shop?]

I picked up my pen immediately and replied to my diary friend.

[Today was a bit tough. I was so nervous. But I think I did well!]

My diary friend believes I work at an ordinary tea shop.

I can’t reveal too much about my job to someone whose identity is uncertain. After all, I’m a servant at the Crown Prince’s palace.

It’s not that I don’t trust my diary friend, but if someone were to steal our diary and compromise the palace’s security, it would cost me my life.

‘And it’s not a complete lie, right?’

Being in charge of the tea service at the Crown Prince’s palace is somewhat akin to working at a tea shop. A tea shop where the regular customer happens to be the notoriously picky Crown Prince.

While I rationalized this to myself, a reply from my diary friend appeared.

[What happened?][Yeah, one employee was suddenly let go, so I had to step in as a replacement. I couldn’t even get a briefing, and I’m all over the place.][That tea shop has terrible employee management. If it’s too hard to work there, how about switching to our side?]

“Can you make a recruitment offer like this? You don’t even know my face…”

While I muttered in surprise, my diary friend continued writing.

[The salary will be quite high.]

I was intrigued.

[How much?]

[I’m not sure of the exact amount, but it will definitely be top-tier.]

It sounded like they were offering me a position at their merchant guild.

‘But no matter how big the guild is, the pay for someone who just serves tea won’t be that great.’

[Thanks for the offer, but I’ll decline. If I get hired there, wouldn’t you become my boss? Exchange diaries with the boss sounds terrible.]

[I see. I apologize for my thoughtlessness.]

[No, it’s fine.]

My diary friend mentioned working at a large merchant guild. His mother, the head of the guild, was training him to be the successor.

“In a world without professional managers, family-run businesses are the norm, I suppose.”

Oops, I said that out loud without realizing it.

I quickly shut my mouth. Hopefully, no one heard me.

Anyway, my diary friend was just trying to help by offering me a job.

‘Did I reject him too bluntly?’

Feeling a bit guilty, I decided to check in on my friend.

[So, how have you been? Are you doing well? Learning a lot at work?]

[Yes, it’s busy but fulfilling work.]

[That’s good. You’re diligent, so I’m sure you’re doing great.]

[Thank you. But… may I seek your advice on a personal matter?]

A request for advice from my diary friend made me feel warm and fuzzy.

[Of course, we’re friends, right? What’s the problem?]

Given my diary friend’s status as a successor to a well-known merchant guild, he probably couldn’t share much about his daily life with me. The fact that he wanted my advice was touching.

[It’s about a friend of mine…]

So, it’s about himself.

[My friend has liked someone for a long time but doesn’t know how to approach her.]

It was a love consultation!

“People are the same everywhere.”

It was a universal dilemma, similar to those I’d heard in my past life. I couldn’t help but smile.

I didn’t know much about romance, but I decided to share some tips I’d picked up in my previous life to help my friend.

[When you don’t know someone well, it often feels hard to approach them. How about arranging more opportunities for them to meet? As they spend more time together and talk, a way will become clear.]

Wow, even I thought that was great advice.

My diary friend was impressed.

[That makes sense. I’ll try to create opportunities for them to spend more time together]

[And also, you need to understand what they like. Do you know their ideal type?]

[I don’t know that yet.]

Oh, there’s still a long way to go. Looks like I’ll have to help a lot!

[Try to subtly find out during conversations. Spending time together and having sweet, romantic talks can create feelings even where there were none. L-O-V-E! Love! Dreams do come true!]

I cheered my friend on with every motivational phrase I could think of.

You can do it, my friend!

[Thank you. But what does ‘L-O-V-E Love’ mean?]

Wow, even though he’s my friend, sometimes he really feels like a chatbot.

But he must be a real person, right? Surely, he’s not a magically enchanted diary chatbot.

“…That can’t be right, can it?”

I struggled to erase unnecessary thoughts as I wrapped up my conversation with my diary friend. Then, I took out the apple jam tart I had brought from the dining hall earlier and ate it as a late-night snack.

‘The food in the Crown Prince’s palace is really delicious.’

Just as I finished the tart, someone knocked on my door.

Knock, knock.

‘Who could it be at this hour?’

When I opened the door, it was the head maid.

“Head Maid!”

Why would she personally come to the room of a new maid like me? If she had summoned me, I would have gone to her!

The head maid called out to me as I fumbled around.

“Lady Erica Marnel.”

“Yes!”

And then, she delivered shocking news.

“Starting tomorrow, the Crown Prince’s teatime will be greatly increased.”

“What?”

So suddenly?

Seeing my surprise, the head maid explained.

“The existing schedule remains unchanged.”

“Yes…”

“In addition, His Highness has ordered that tea be served after lunch. Also, he wants appropriate tea snacks served with the tea between lunch and dinner.”

My workload just doubled!

The amount of time I spend facing the Crown Prince has doubled. Does that mean my chances of getting fired have doubled too?

It became hard for me to maintain a neutral expression.

‘How many times does His Highness drink tea in a day? Was he British in his past life?’

Seeing my face contort rapidly, the head maid hurriedly added,

“Since your workload has increased, so has your salary!”

‘Oh, in that case…’

My frown turned into a smile.

“Since teatime has doubled, so has your pay.”

“Wow, thank you!”

How much is that exactly? Let’s calculate.

I will now receive 1 gold and 92 silver every seven days. That’s a bit over 8 gold a month. If I save up for a year, that’s 100 gold.

100 gold!

‘If I work here for a few years, could I buy a building in the capital?’

A building.

The thought that I might have a building in my name, not in the family’s name, made my heart race.

What would I do if I had a building? Should I open a tea shop?

After seeing off the head maid and thinking it over, the conclusion didn’t change.

I could only think of a tea shop. What else would I open if not a tea shop?

If I save my salary and become a landlord and tea shop owner, then I would have nothing to fear.

‘Since the building would be mine, no one could evict me, and since the shop would be mine, no one could fire me.’

If I could spend each day surrounded by my favorite tea leaves, I would be the happiest person in the world.

And to achieve that dream, I must endure without getting fired from the Crown Prince’s palace.

“I can do it. Somehow, I will cater to His Highness’s tastes and preferences.”

And I will survive in this 100-gold-a-year job!